Today, Barry Island Pleasure Park (BIPP) still exists, despite the island seemingly slowly closing down around it.

The Hypervalue group, famed throughout South Wales and the west for their value stores, now owns the park. Throughout the 1990’s cash was injected into the park, as Ken Rogers, Chairman of Hypervalue at the time (now sadly deceased) realised his dream of turning BIPP into a top day-trip destination.

BIPP has over 50 rides and attractions for all ages, from the white-knuckle Evolution and Superstar rides, to the pink knuckle Log Flume and Twister, to the kiddies Mini Pirate Ship and Train Ride. There are also arcades within the park and along the promenade. Entry to the park is free, with the rides operating on a ticket system, with ticket booths around the park.

However, disaster struck for BIPP when the holiday camp closed, as almost overnight, a significant part of the parks trade was removed. This, along with changing holiday habits in Britain, left the BIPP entering the new millennium miserable.

Questions were often cast over the future of the site by locals, especially after seeing the value of the land on the former holiday camp site, and the new homes that sprung up on it. Rumours spread that the land had been sold late 2005.

However, these rumours were smashed in January 2006, when the new Leisure and Entertainments Manager for Hypervalue, inchare of the BIPP site, told us in an exclusive email:

“There
                           are no immediate plans to put housing on the site, there has been interest from 3rd parties, 

but not from the Hypervalue side of the equation!”

“We have allocated over
                           £100,000 this year to improve rides and ensure 100% of rides and attractions are open”

“We are giving the whole
                           park a cosmetic facelift and we are starting to market things in a very different way. 

Adding 5 new side shows this season, and entertainers, 2 outdoor stages with performances in peak hours and a much
                           tighter reigns on the management of staff, brand values and customer care”

“I don't want people to think we are closing when actually we are definitely not! 

And that is from the horses mouth!”

So there you have it – 2006 promises to be an interesting year at the BIPP, with it being
                           taken in a new refreshing direction! 

ButlinsBarryIsland.com wish BIPP
                           and the Hypervalue group the best of luck, lets help them keep the park prospering, so the island doesn’t completely
                           forget its deep history with the leisure industries!